How the proposed federal assault-weapons ban compares to California's

Here's how the federal Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, introduced Thursday by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., compares with California's ban, the oldest and one of the toughest in the nation:

On specific makes and models banned:

Feinstein's bill is even broader, listing more specific makes and models of banned weapons than California's law. For example, California specifically bans the Bushmaster assault rifle and all rifles in the Bushmaster XM15 line, while Feinstein's bill specifically names those plus the Bushmaster Carbon 15 and Bushmaster MOE series.

On specific makes and models exempted:

California doesn't have a list of guns specifically exempted from its ban; Feinstein's bill names more than 2,200 "legitimate hunting and sporting rifles" by specific make and model.

On other characteristics banned:

Feinstein's bill would apply to semi-automatic weapons that can accept a detachable ammunition magazine and also have one or more specific military-style characteristics, including pistol grips, flash suppressors and a folding or telescoping stock. California's ban is much the same -- a detachable magazine plus one of those specific features -- but the federal ban in effect from 1994 to 2004 was less strict, banning only those weapons with a detachable magazine plus two or more such features.

On large-capacity magazines:

Feinstein's bill would ban large-capacity magazines and other ammunition-feeding devices holding more than 10 rounds, just like California's law and the previous federal ban.

Advertisement

On the "bullet button":

Some California Democrats are now trying to close what they say is a loophole in the state's ban dealing with a modification to semi-automatic rifles that gets around the state's definition of what a fixed ammunition magazine is. The proposed federal ban would prohibit these "bullet buttons," which allow magazines to be changed with the tip of a bullet.